UK’s leading racehorse owner and head of Godolphin stable found to have had no
knowledge of doping incidents by former Metropolitan Police commissioner

An investigation into the multiple drugs scandals to hit the equine empire of Sheikh Mohammed has exposed “management failings, insufficient oversight and complacency” within the organisation – but has cleared the ruler of Dubai of any wrongdoing.

A probe commissioned by the UK’s leading racehorse owner and conducted by Lord Stevens, the former Metropolitan Police commissioner, also recommended the Sheikh establish an independent internal compliance unit with sweeping powers to examine any part of his operation.

However, the full findings of Lord Stevens’ renowned team of investigators at Quest – including precisely who was to blame for dragging the reputation of the Sheikh’s empire through the mud – were controversially not disclosed.

The Daily Telegraph was assured on wednesday evening that those deemed responsible for failing to prevent disgraced former trainer Mahmood al-Zarooni injecting thoroughbreds with performance-enhancing steroids would be dealt with.

As would those who allowed veterinary goods to enter Britain described as “potentially toxic and dangerous to horses” and seized from a Dubai Royal Air Wing flight at Stansted Airport by the UK Border Agency and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. Those who allowed further unlicensed products at Moorley Farm, owned by the Sheikh’s Darley Stud operation, in Newmarket will also be subject to disciplinary action.

Related Articles

The Telegraph was also informed that Quest, which only makes public aspects of its investigations in agreement with its clients, had succeeded where the British Horseracing Authority failed last year by actually interviewing the Sheikh about the scandals. Whether the findings of the report which were on Wednesday made public are enough to satisfy his critics remains to be seen, particularly as it revealed little more than a British Horseracing Authority inquiry back in July, which also exonerated him.

The Quest report concluded after interviewing Al Zarooni – something the BHA also failed to do after the initial disciplinary hearing – that the former trainer acted alone. It also determined that the drugs found at Stansted and Moorley Farm were widely used and considered safe although “improperly imported”.

The Telegraph has learnt that four of the 15 substances seized at Stansted are banned in the UK in any form, but the report claimed they were not “illegal”, were “widely used and considered safe” and available here under different brand names.

The quantities, the report added, were “not in themselves unusual” given the size of the Sheikh’s operation, while there was “no evidence” linking the seizures with the Al-Zarooni case.

Stevens, whose organisation also runs the integrity unit of the International Equestrian Federation – the president of which is married to the Sheikh, said: “Throughout our investigation of the three entirely separate incidents, we have established that no evidence whatsoever exists to suggest that Sheikh Mohammed had any knowledge of the purchase, transportation or use of any unregulated medicines. Equally neither did he have any knowledge of the illegal activities of Mahmood al-Zarooni.

“However, in our discussions with Sheikh Mohammed, he agreed to create a task force of experts to suggest ways to make it easier for all affected stakeholders in the equestrian industry to comply with the regulations. He will ask the task force to consider the creation of a global database containing country-by-country information on registered products that could be easily accessible.”

BHA spokesman Robin Mounsey, said: “We welcome the release of the public report compiled by Lord Stevens. The BHA carried out its own extensive investigation into the Godolphin operation, which concluded in July of last year. We have been in contact with Lord Stevens’ team and the findings of the investigation corroborate the conclusions of our own investigation.

“In the light of the positive samples last year, the Godolphin horses based at Moulton Paddocks remain subject to enhanced monitoring for a period of time until BHA is satisfied that a reduced level of scrutiny would be appropriate.”